SoFi Stadium Workers Vote to Authorize Strike Ahead of World Cup, Demand Higher Wages and ICE Ban

More than 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium, the venue for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, have voted to authorize a strike just three days before the tournament begins. The union representing these workers, Unite Here Local 11, is pushing for significant wage increases and a strict policy against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the stadium.

The vote, which saw 96% in favor of authorizing a strike, grants the union the power to call for work stoppages at any time. Workers, including cooks, dishwashers, concession staff, bartenders, and suite attendants, are demanding substantial pay raises, seeking wages that exceed $30 per hour, a significant jump from the current minimum of $16.90 for some employees. "We want fair wages that we believe we deserve, but we also want the safety of employees and visitors. If we can't get that, our people are ready to walk out," stated Yolanda Fierro, a union representative.

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We want fair wages that we believe we deserve, but we also want the safety of employees and visitors. If we can't get that, our people are ready to walk out.

Beyond wages, the union is vehemently opposed to the stadium's accreditation policy, which they claim requires workers to disclose sensitive immigration information as a condition of employment for the World Cup. They are concerned that this information could be shared with ICE, potentially jeopardizing their jobs and violating California privacy laws. The union has joined forces with the ACLU of Southern California and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy to urge the state's Attorney General to investigate FIFA's accreditation process. Fierro expressed the workers' fears: "We are concerned that FIFA will hand over our most sensitive personal information and waive our rights... or that we could lose our jobs during the tournament."

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We are concerned that FIFA will hand over our most sensitive personal information and waive our rights, according to California law, or that we could lose our jobs during the tournament.